Welcome Cousins

Last night, I heard a new born baby cry and my heart stood still

Today, I saw that self same infant smile and I marvel still

To think it took but one woman

one man

one love

a speck

a blob

nine months

strong pulse

for a perfect miracle named

Ella

Matthew

Jade

Luke

Whatever their destiny

please let them also be

singers of songs

weavers of dreams

drummers of great news

young men and women of such pure grit

as only golden ones are made

Let them be lovers of life

their parents’ delight

and in their very special way

a gift to our world

Poor Mrs Carnelley

Mrs Carnelley sat in front of the telly

And was feeling ever so sad

For her class that day, her lovely class

Had gone quite cheekily mad

When she gave them some work

As a bit of a joke they had shouted

“Not on your Nelly, Mrs Carnelley!”

And had not done a stroke

Poor Mrs Carnelley!

La Pluie Ka Tombé, Soleil Ka Claywé (Dominican Creole)

La pluie Ka tombé

Soleil Ka claywé

Diable Ka mayé

Deyer la porte chamme!

Rain falling,

Sun shining,

The devil courting his bride

Take care to shut the back room door,

Quick!

Get indoors and hide.

Silent and invisible,

He’ll watch your every move

And this my friend

I know for true.

When rain falling,

Sun shining,

And the devil strolling his wife,

You better just be out of sight

Or it’s you,

Your Soul,

Or your life!

La pluie Ka tombé

Soleil Ka claywé

Diable Ka mayé

Deyer la porte chamme!

*Rain and Sun together in the Caribbean means the devil is about.

Hold On

Hold on to the company of people who uplift you

even if they’re not pure gold

Hold on to your laughter

even if you can’t hold back the tears

Hold on to your dreams

even if they seem old and faded

Hold on to the many tunes inside your head

even if they’re only half remembered

Hold on to what you know lives within you

even if you can’t always feel the pulse

Hold on to your own drum-beat

even if its rhythm is uneven

Hold on

even if it would be easy to let go